USPS, UPS Not Working

[BlessIsaacola]

I am in need of serious help. I do not know what changed but all of a sudden shipping quote is not working on our server for UPS, USPS, Fedex. I don't know if there's a feature turned off on our server or what could be responsible for this but I despirately need help.

I don't even know where to start. The site in question is http://www.clevershoppers.com Things were working just fine until today and yes! we are using the update version of usps from January.

[BlessIsaacola]

Not sure if this have anything to do with it but that's actually happening tomorrow not today:

Web Tools customers;

Please be aware that the USPS Web Tools domestic service standards APIs will be modified as described below:

1. Effective April 17, 2011, the Package Services Service Standards (i.e. StandardB) API response will be altered to accommodate additional messaging for items to or from ZIP Codes outside the contiguous United States and APO/FPO/DPO locations. A new <Message> data element, as shown in the example below, will be present in the StandardB response when the following 3-digit ZIP Codes are used: 995, 996, 997, 998, 999, 967, 968, 969, 006, 007, 008, 009 and APO/FPO/DPO ZIP Codes.

<StandardBResponse>
<OriginZip>902</OriginZip>
<DestinationZip>969</DestinationZip>
<Days>10</Days>
<Message>The timeliness of service to or from destinations outside the contiguous US may be affected by the limited availability of transportation.</Message>
</StandardBResponse>

2. Effective April 17, 2011, the Priority Mail Service Standards (i.e. PriorityMail) API response will be altered to accommodate additional messaging for items to or from APO/FPO/DPO ZIP Codes. A new <Message> data element, as shown in the example below, will be present in the PriorityMail response when APO/FPO/DPO 3-digit ZIP Codes are used.

<PriorityMailResponse>
<OriginZip>902</OriginZip>
<DestinationZip>090</DestinationZip>
<Days>Military Mail</Days>
<Message> The origin and/or destination ZIP Code supplied is an APO/FPO/DPO ZIP code. Service commitments to this location are not available at this time.</Message>
</PriorityMailResponse>

3. Effective April 17, 2011, the Express Mail Service Standards (i.e ExpressMail) API will be retired. This API returns only error information currently and will no longer return these errors.

For questions or concerns, please contact the USPS Internet Customer Care Center at 1-800-344-7779 or [email protected].

Thank you,
USPS Web Tools Program Office

[Ajeh]

So far, I am not repeating the error ... can you check that you have the current USPS January 2, 2011 C from post #26 of:
http://www.zen-cart.com/forum/showth...S+January+2011

[Ajeh]

Also, your site was not working a couple minutes ago and now it is for both US and Canada ... did you change anything or is it just magic?

[BlessIsaacola]

Also, your site was not working a couple minutes ago and now it is for both US and Canada ... did you change anything or is it just magic?

Thank you so much for taking a look. As it turned out, our hosting company messed things up and I was able to figure out the problem.

Basically, they disabled DNS Recursion in named.conf on our dedicated server and for some reason that messed things up. It shouldn't but it did.

This is the line of code that was in the file

recursion no;

I am not sure if it's the right syntax or not but I removed that line from what they did and restarted the server (which is probably when you got the error). Everything is working fine just now but I need to get them to solve the DNS Recursion problem the right way.

Its's a very scary thing that the host company can't figure out making such a minor adjustment without breaking our site.

There was another comment DrByte made about fsockopen and I am taking a look at that as well to make sure it's not disabled on our server.

[BlessIsaacola]

Can you please help understand how the call to external site works/functions so I can better educate my host company what services/functions is need on our server to make this work?

Basically, when DNS Recursion is disabled on our server it breaks shipping quotes and gateway connections. I am not sure why this is the case but maybe if I understand the functions/services needed on our site for shipping quotes and gateway that would help.

[hookah]

USPS just stopped working for me. I appreciate the explanation about the change in an earlier post but I didn't see any information about what to do about it.

So, I am now not able to calculate any USPS shipping rates any longer.

I have enabled debug mode and I am getting a response back from USPS, however, zencart is unable to parse it. I can see in the raw XML that rates are present, yet in the cart it claims it can't find a rate.

Any help would be appreciated.

This is the XML response.

<?xml version="1.0"?>
<IntlRateResponse><Package ID="0"><Prohibitions>Any postal item containing enclosures addressed to different persons at different addresses.
Arms and parts of arms, except as noted under Observation #5 below.
Articles, goods infringing British trademarks or copyright laws.
Cards decorated with mica or ground glass or similar materials unless they are placed in envelopes.
Citizens Band Radios, walkie-talkies, microbugs, and radio microphones that are capable of transmitting on any frequency between 26.1 and 29.7 megacycles per second and 88 to 108 Mhz per second.
Goods made in foreign prisons, except those imported for a non-commercial purpose or of a kind not manufactured in the UK.
Horror comics and matrices.
Obscene articles, prints, paintings, cards, films, videotapes, etc.
Perishable infectious biological substances.
Seal skins except those from an accepted source.
Switchblade knives.</Prohibitions><Restrictions>The maximum value of a GXG shipment to GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND is $2,499 or a lesser amount if limited by content or value.
Coins; banknotes; currency notes (paper money); securities payable to bearer; traveler's checks; manufactured and unmanufactured platinum, gold, silver; precious stones; jewelry; and other valuable articles, may only be sent in registered First-Class Mail International shipments or insured Priority Mail International parcels.
Foods or beverages to which any preservative or other substance has been added must comply with the British regulations for importation.
Live bees.
Live queen bees must be accompanied by an import license issued by a UK Government Agricultural Department and a health certificate issued by the appropriate Government Department of the country of origin stating that the bees are free of disease.
Meat, meat products, and animal products including dry sausage and dried milk require import license issued by appropriate UK Agricultural Department.
Plants and parts of plants require import permit issued by the appropriate Agricultural Department in UK.</Restrictions><Observations>1. The following is a list of the names of the counties and city names in Northern Ireland. The County names are in capital letters. The geographic identifiers should be used in addressing mail to Northern Ireland:

ANTRIM:
Antrim
Ballymena
Belfast
Carrickfergus
Larne
Lisburn
Portrush
Toomebridge
Whitehead

ARMAGH:
Armagh
Lurgan
Portsdown

DOWN:
Banbridge
Bangor
Downpatrick
Kilkeel
Newcastle
Newry
Newtownards

LONDONDERRY:
Coleraine
Kilrea
Limavady
Londonderry
Magherafelt
Portstewart

TYRONE:
Cookstown
Dugannon
Moy
Omagh
Strabane

FERMANAGH:
Enniskillen

2. Many types of merchandise, unless sent as unsolicited gifts, require import licenses that the addressees must obtain from the British Board of Trade. Before mailing commercial shipments, senders should be assured that the addressees can obtain licenses if needed. 
3. All goods sent to the UK are liable to customs duty and Value Added Tax on importation whether or not the package is marked as a "gift." Packages are admitted free of customs charges, however, if they meet the following conditions: 
(a) Gift packages of small value provided they do not contain any tobacco goods, spirits or wine; 
(b) Gift packages containing only well-worn clothing (excluding garments of high value), limited quantities of foodstuffs (other than caviar), soap or consumable medical supplies. 
4. Postal packages without a customs declaration that contain goods liable to customs duty or control may be seized by the customs authorities. 
5. Firearms that are intended for sporting purposes are mailable to Great Britain, provided the prospective addressee has obtained the required import license. 
6. Great Britain limits the weight of M-bags to 20 kg. (44 lbs.). </Observations><CustomsForms>First-Class Mail International items and Priority Mail International Flat Rate Envelopes and Small Flat Rate Boxes: 
PS Form 2976 (see 123.61)
Priority Mail International parcels:
PS Form 2976-A inside 2976-E (envelope)</CustomsForms><ExpressMail>Country Code:  
GB  

Reciprocal Service Name:  
Datapost  

Required Customs Form/Endorsement   
1. Business correspondence, commercial papers, and documents. 
No form required. Endorse item clearly next to mailing label as BUSINESS PAPERS.
 
2. Merchandise samples without commercial value.
PS Form 2976, Customs - CN 22 and Sender's Declaration.
 
3. Merchandise and all articles subject to customs duty.
PS Form 2976-A, Customs Declaration and Dispatch Note CP 72, inside a PS Form 2976-E, Customs Declaration Envelope CP 91.
 

Note:
1. Coins; banknotes; currency notes, including paper money; securities of any kind payable to bearer; traveler's checks; platinum, gold, and silver; precious stones; jewelry; watches; and other valuable articles are prohibited in Express Mail International shipments to Great Britain and Northern Ireland. 
2. Express Mail International With Guarantee service - which offers a date-certain, postage-refund guarantee - is available to Great Britain and Northern Ireland. 

Areas Served:

All points in England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, Guernsey, Jersey, Alderney, Sark, and the Isle of Man.</ExpressMail><AreasServed>Please reference Express Mail for Areas Served.</AreasServed><Service ID="4"><Pounds>21</Pounds><Ounces>6.4</Ounces><MailType>Package</MailType><Country>GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND</Country><Postage>216.95</Postage><SvcCommitments>1 - 3 business days</SvcCommitments><SvcDescription>Global Express Guaranteed&amp;lt;sup&amp;gt;&amp;amp;reg;&amp;lt;/sup&amp;gt; (GXG)**</SvcDescription><MaxDimensions>Max. length 46", width 35", height 46" and max. length plus girth combined 108"</MaxDimensions><MaxWeight>70</MaxWeight></Service><Service ID="6"><Pounds>21</Pounds><Ounces>6.4</Ounces><MailType>Package</MailType><Country>GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND</Country><Postage>216.95</Postage><SvcCommitments>1 - 3 business days</SvcCommitments><SvcDescription>Global Express Guaranteed&amp;lt;sup&amp;gt;&amp;amp;reg;&amp;lt;/sup&amp;gt; Non-Document Rectangular</SvcDescription><MaxDimensions>Max. length 46", width 35", height 46" and max. length plus girth combined 108"</MaxDimensions><MaxWeight>70</MaxWeight></Service><Service ID="7"><Pounds>21</Pounds><Ounces>6.4</Ounces><MailType>Package</MailType><Country>GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND</Country><Postage>216.95</Postage><SvcCommitments>1 - 3 business days</SvcCommitments><SvcDescription>Global Express Guaranteed&amp;lt;sup&amp;gt;&amp;amp;reg;&amp;lt;/sup&amp;gt; Non-Document Non-Rectangular</SvcDescription><MaxDimensions>Max. length 46", width 35", height 46" and max. length plus girth combined 108"</MaxDimensions><MaxWeight>70</MaxWeight></Service><Service ID="12"><Pounds>21</Pounds><Ounces>6.4</Ounces><MailType>Package</MailType><Country>GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND</Country><Postage>216.95</Postage><SvcCommitments>1 - 3 business days</SvcCommitments><SvcDescription>USPS GXG&amp;lt;sup&amp;gt;&amp;amp;trade;&amp;lt;/sup&amp;gt; Envelopes**</SvcDescription><MaxDimensions>Cardboard envelope has a dimension of 12-1/2" x 9-1/2" and GXG tyvek envelope has a dimension of 15-1/2" x 12-1/2"</MaxDimensions><MaxWeight>70</MaxWeight></Service><Service ID="1"><Pounds>21</Pounds><Ounces>6.4</Ounces><MailType>Package</MailType><Country>GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND</Country><Postage>127.90</Postage><SvcCommitments>3 - 5 business days</SvcCommitments><SvcDescription>Express Mail&amp;lt;sup&amp;gt;&amp;amp;reg;&amp;lt;/sup&amp;gt; International</SvcDescription><MaxDimensions>Max. length 36", max. length plus girth 79"</MaxDimensions><MaxWeight>66</MaxWeight></Service><Service ID="10"><Pounds>21</Pounds><Ounces>6.4</Ounces><MailType>Package</MailType><Country>GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND</Country><Postage>29.95</Postage><SvcCommitments>3 - 5 business days</SvcCommitments><SvcDescription>Express Mail&amp;lt;sup&amp;gt;&amp;amp;reg;&amp;lt;/sup&amp;gt; International Flat Rate Envelope</SvcDescription><MaxDimensions>USPS-Produced Envelope: 12-1/2" x 9-1/2"</MaxDimensions><MaxWeight>66</MaxWeight></Service><Service ID="17"><Pounds>21</Pounds><Ounces>6.4</Ounces><MailType>Package</MailType><Country>GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND</Country><Postage>29.95</Postage><SvcCommitments>3 - 5 business days</SvcCommitments><SvcDescription>Express Mail&amp;lt;sup&amp;gt;&amp;amp;reg;&amp;lt;/sup&amp;gt; International Legal Flat Rate Envelope</SvcDescription><MaxDimensions>USPS-Produced Envelope: 15" x 9-1/2"</MaxDimensions><MaxWeight>66</MaxWeight></Service><Service ID="2"><Pounds>21</Pounds><Ounces>6.4</Ounces><MailType>Package</MailType><Country>GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND</Country><Postage>91.85</Postage><SvcCommitments>6 - 10 business days</SvcCommitments><SvcDescription>Priority Mail&amp;lt;sup&amp;gt;&amp;amp;reg;&amp;lt;/sup&amp;gt; International</SvcDescription><MaxDimensions>Max. length 60", max. length plus girth combined 108"</MaxDimensions><MaxWeight>66</MaxWeight></Service></Package></IntlRateResponse>

[hookah]

My last message didn't accept the entire XML response as it was VERY lengthy. Here is the part that comes after that VERY long field..

<AreasServed>Please reference Express Mail for Areas Served.</AreasServed><Service ID="4"><Pounds>21</Pounds><Ounces>6.4</Ounces><MailType>Package</MailType><Country>GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND</Country><Postage>216.95</Postage><SvcCommitments>1 - 3 business days</SvcCommitments><SvcDescription>Global Express Guaranteed&amp;lt;sup&amp;gt;&amp;amp;reg;&amp;lt;/sup&amp;gt; (GXG)**</SvcDescription><MaxDimensions>Max. length 46", width 35", height 46" and max. length plus girth combined 108"</MaxDimensions><MaxWeight>70</MaxWeight></Service><Service ID="6"><Pounds>21</Pounds><Ounces>6.4</Ounces><MailType>Package</MailType><Country>GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND</Country><Postage>216.95</Postage><SvcCommitments>1 - 3 business days</SvcCommitments><SvcDescription>Global Express Guaranteed&amp;lt;sup&amp;gt;&amp;amp;reg;&amp;lt;/sup&amp;gt; Non-Document Rectangular</SvcDescription><MaxDimensions>Max. length 46", width 35", height 46" and max. length plus girth combined 108"</MaxDimensions><MaxWeight>70</MaxWeight></Service><Service ID="7"><Pounds>21</Pounds><Ounces>6.4</Ounces><MailType>Package</MailType><Country>GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND</Country><Postage>216.95</Postage><SvcCommitments>1 - 3 business days</SvcCommitments><SvcDescription>Global Express Guaranteed&amp;lt;sup&amp;gt;&amp;amp;reg;&amp;lt;/sup&amp;gt; Non-Document Non-Rectangular</SvcDescription><MaxDimensions>Max. length 46", width 35", height 46" and max. length plus girth combined 108"</MaxDimensions><MaxWeight>70</MaxWeight></Service><Service ID="12"><Pounds>21</Pounds><Ounces>6.4</Ounces><MailType>Package</MailType><Country>GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND</Country><Postage>216.95</Postage><SvcCommitments>1 - 3 business days</SvcCommitments><SvcDescription>USPS GXG&amp;lt;sup&amp;gt;&amp;amp;trade;&amp;lt;/sup&amp;gt; Envelopes**</SvcDescription><MaxDimensions>Cardboard envelope has a dimension of 12-1/2" x 9-1/2" and GXG tyvek envelope has a dimension of 15-1/2" x 12-1/2"</MaxDimensions><MaxWeight>70</MaxWeight></Service><Service ID="1"><Pounds>21</Pounds><Ounces>6.4</Ounces><MailType>Package</MailType><Country>GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND</Country><Postage>127.90</Postage><SvcCommitments>3 - 5 business days</SvcCommitments><SvcDescription>Express Mail&amp;lt;sup&amp;gt;&amp;amp;reg;&amp;lt;/sup&amp;gt; International</SvcDescription><MaxDimensions>Max. length 36", max. length plus girth 79"</MaxDimensions><MaxWeight>66</MaxWeight></Service><Service ID="10"><Pounds>21</Pounds><Ounces>6.4</Ounces><MailType>Package</MailType><Country>GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND</Country><Postage>29.95</Postage><SvcCommitments>3 - 5 business days</SvcCommitments><SvcDescription>Express Mail&amp;lt;sup&amp;gt;&amp;amp;reg;&amp;lt;/sup&amp;gt; International Flat Rate Envelope</SvcDescription><MaxDimensions>USPS-Produced Envelope: 12-1/2" x 9-1/2"</MaxDimensions><MaxWeight>66</MaxWeight></Service><Service ID="17"><Pounds>21</Pounds><Ounces>6.4</Ounces><MailType>Package</MailType><Country>GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND</Country><Postage>29.95</Postage><SvcCommitments>3 - 5 business days</SvcCommitments><SvcDescription>Express Mail&amp;lt;sup&amp;gt;&amp;amp;reg;&amp;lt;/sup&amp;gt; International Legal Flat Rate Envelope</SvcDescription><MaxDimensions>USPS-Produced Envelope: 15" x 9-1/2"</MaxDimensions><MaxWeight>66</MaxWeight></Service><Service ID="2"><Pounds>21</Pounds><Ounces>6.4</Ounces><MailType>Package</MailType><Country>GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND</Country><Postage>91.85</Postage><SvcCommitments>6 - 10 business days</SvcCommitments><SvcDescription>Priority Mail&amp;lt;sup&amp;gt;&amp;amp;reg;&amp;lt;/sup&amp;gt; International</SvcDescription><MaxDimensions>Max. length 60", max. length plus girth combined 108"</MaxDimensions><MaxWeight>66</MaxWeight></Service></Package></IntlRateResponse>

[BlessIsaacola]

I am not sure if your problem is related to mine or not. Have you established that DNS recursion was disabled on your server and that's why you're having the problem? This you can verify in your named.conf file if you have access to your server. Did you also check to make sure fsockopen as function is enabled on your server?

If your problem is related to DNS recursion the code below is what I used to disable recursion but turn it on my all the ip on our server that needs it. So basically it allows recursion internally but not to the outside world.

include "/etc/rndc.key";

controls {
	inet 127.0.0.1 allow { localhost; } keys { "rndc-key"; };
};

acl "trusted" {
127.0.0.1;
ip address;
ip address;
ip address;
ip address;
ip address;
ip address;
ip address;
};

options {
    /* make named use port 53 for the source of all queries, to allow
         * firewalls to block all ports except 53:
         */

    // query-source    port 53;

    /* We no longer enable this by default as the dns posion exploit
        has forced many providers to open up their firewalls a bit */

    // Put files that named is allowed to write in the data/ directory:
    directory                "/var/named"; // the default
    pid-file                 "/var/run/named/named.pid";
    dump-file                "data/cache_dump.db";
    statistics-file          "data/named_stats.txt";
   /* memstatistics-file     "data/named_mem_stats.txt"; */
    allow-recursion { trusted; };
    allow-notify { trusted; };
    allow-transfer { trusted; };
  
};

I have the replaced the value of our ip addresses above for security reason but you get the idea.

[hookah]

I am not sure if your problem is related to mine or not. Have you established that DNS recursion was disabled on your server and that's why you're having the problem? This you can verify in your named.conf file if you have access to your server. Did you also check to make sure fsockopen as function is enabled on your server?

If your problem is related to DNS recursion the code below is what I used to disable recursion but turn it on my all the ip on our server that needs it. So basically it allows recursion internally but not to the outside world.

I have the replaced the value of our ip addresses above for security reason but you get the idea.

I do run my own server so I can change anything I need to. pfsockopen was off, but that never kept USPS from working before. I turned it back on and it didn't make any difference.

As for the recursion I have three choices, Any, Local Nets, or Local Host. It is currently set to Local Host. I changed it to Any for a test but it didn't make any difference.

This use to work, it just started failing recently.